He says, she says – and when. It’s all in the timing for a writer
“You must know all, then not tell it all, or not tell too much at once.” -Eudora Welty Excellent observation from American short story writer and novelist, Eudora Welty (1909-2001). This sums up the process of writing perfectly. A good novel offers a slow reveal, one of the joys of reading is slowly uncovering the…
Read MoreOn the menu in Brussels
I’ve already posted a fair bit about a four-day get-away my younger son and I made to Brussels, Belgium. He chose the city for our get-away (his first time there) and we saw a lot, but he continues to rave about Brussels and say he’d like to go back. Although we had a lot of…
Read MoreKnowing your local library
You all know the famous words about libraries from Albert Einstein. And if you don’t, you should: “The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.” -Albert Einstein When I travel back to New York, I’m always lugging books over with me. Then, of course, having so many English…
Read MorePicturesque Pau – tucked away in France’s Pyrénées
On a very long drive last summer from Rome to France’s Pays basque, along the Atlantic coast, we decided to make some tourist stops. One of those stops was in Pau, a charming town nestled in the Pyrénées. Pau is the capital of the region of Béarn and offers a lot to see for visitors.…
Read MoreCatherine McNamara’s reading of The Cartography of Others in Rome
Earlier this week, I went to the Otherwise bookstore in Rome to see Italy-based Australian author Catherine McNamara read from her new short story collection entitled The Cartography of Others. I met Catherine some years ago, and I’ve already blogged about her work. You can see my earlier post about her last collection, Pelt and Other…
Read MoreOutdoor cinema at Piazza Vittorio, Rome – 2018
I am a big fan of outdoor cinema, and every summer I’m happy to see the screens set up outside at Piazza Vittorio, a neighborhood near me in Rome. There are two screens in the park, and each evening there are two movies shown at what is officially called Notti di cinema a Piazza Vittorio.…
Read MoreFor this playwright, the opinions of a select few are what count most
“I would like critics to like my plays because that is what makes plays successful. But a few people I respect are the only ones whose opinions I’ve worried about in the end.” -Lillian Hellman Wise words by American playwright and screenwriter Lillian Hellman (1905-1984). I love that Hellman admits that good reviews are crucial…
Read MoreSperlonga’s Truglia Tower
Italy’s coastline is dotted by picturesque watchtowers. These have a long history – and were generally constructed to thwart off Ottoman or Saracen invasions. Luckily, today they are merely photogenic spots. One such tower is in the town of Sperlonga – a pretty, medieval beach town south of Rome, on Lazio’s southern coast. I’ve already…
Read MoreManneken Pis: Symbol of Brussels
I’ve already expressed my doubts about the symbols of Brussels. I enjoy Belgium’s capital. I love its elegant art deco galleries, and its stunning, gold-plaited Grand’ Place, so it does seem odd to me that the symbols of the city are a giant model of an atom and a fountain dedicated to a urinating boy. That…
Read MoreBook review: The Burning Girl
This is the third Claire Messud novel I’ve read. I enjoyed her bestselling novel The Emperor’s Children, and her debut novel When the World Was Steady. The Burning Girl is her latest work. This novel set in small-town Massachusetts follows the lives and friendship of Julia Robinson and Cassie Burns. Julia and Cassie have grown…
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